Opera Brougham
Coachwork: Fernandez & Darrin
Chassis #: 83486795
Sold for $506,000 at 2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company.
This one-of-a-kind Buick Opera Brougham is the creation of the design house of Fernandez and Darrin of Paris, France, and is mounted on the Series 80 Roadmaster chassis. First displayed at the 1938 Paris Auto Salon, it was the property of several proud owners, including the Countess Max de Polaska, of Poland. She used it to drive between her summer home in Long Island and her winter retreat in Pebble Beach. To keep an eye on what her chauffeur was doing while commuting, it has a matching clock and speedometer repeater set in the luxuriously appointed rear compartment. Outside, the blue paintwork is finished with complementary cream faux-canework on the rear doors while the Buick Series 80 front end with the dual side-mounted spare wheel cases is more or less intact.Powered by a 320-cubic inch, overhead-valve, inline eight-cylinder engine, the chassis rides on a 140-inch wheelbase. The suspension was independent 'knee-action' coil springs in front and coils in the rear. The top speed for production models was about 80 mph.This one-off Buick has sweeping early 1930s-style fenders, has no running boards, a very raked windscreen, Marchal lenses, caning, oversized rear-hinged doors, and many luxury features in the passenger compartment. There is a proper Buick cowl, bumpers, and headlamps.
During the 1990s, the car was given a frame-up, cost-no-object restoration.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2014
1938 Buick Series 80 Roadmaster
Buick
2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $200,000-USD $325,000
Sale Price :
USD $506,000
2004 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $150,000-USD $250,000
Sale Price :
USD $275,000
1938 Buick Series 80 Roadmaster Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Buick Series 80 Roadmaster
(Data based on Model Year 1938 sales)
1938 Buick Roadmaster Series 80C Sport Phaeton Chassis#: 13347682 Sold for USD$52,640 2021 Bonhams : The Scottsdale Auction | |
1938 Buick Series 80C Roadmaster Sport Phaeton Chassis#: 83480369 Sold for USD$84,700 2018 Worldwide Auctioneers : Pacific Grove Auction | ![]() |
1938 Buick Series 81 Roadmaster Touring Sedan with Trunkback Sold for USD$32,450 2015 Auctions America - Auburn Spring | |
1938 Buick Roadmaster Touring Sedan with Trunkback Sold for USD$22,275 2015 Auctions America - Fort Lauderdale | |
1938 Buick Model 80C Roadmster Sold for USD$56,100 2011 Worldwide Auctioneers - The Houston Classic Weekend | |
1938 Buick Model 80C Roadmaster Sold for USD$56,100 2011 Worldwide Auctioneers - The Houston Classic Weekend | |
1938 Buick Roadmaster Us Army Staff Car Sold for USD$4,800 2011 Mecum Auctions - Kissimmee, FL Auction | |
1938 Buick Roadmaster US Army Staff Car Sold for USD$8,750 2010 Mecum - Kissimee Auction | |
1938 Buick Limited Series 80 Opera Brougham Chassis#: 83486795 Sold for USD$506,000 2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Buick Roadmaster Series 80 Chassis#: 13383019 Sold for USD$72,600 2009 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Houston Classic Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Buick Roadmaster Convertible Sedan Sold for USD$57,200 2007 Worldwide Auctions - Sterling McCall 2007 | |
1938 Buick Series 80 Opera Brougham Chassis#: 83486795 Sold for USD$275,000 2004 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island | ![]() ![]() |
1938 BUICK 80 SERIES PHAETON Sold for USD$52,000 2002 Kruse Auction - Auburn, IN |
Buick Series 80 Roadmasters That Failed To Sell At Auction
1938 Buick Series 80 Roadmaster's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1938 Buick Century Series 80 Sedan | 2012 Shannons Sydney Autumn Classic |
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1938 Buick Series 80 Roadmaster
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